Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Sarah237 on November 11, 2014, 13:04:13 PM
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Hello, I am travelling from England to Northern Ireland via ferry with my cat. (Car journey from Leicester to Wales, ferry for 3.5 hours then a car journey from dublin to belfast)
I took Molly in about a year ago as she was stray and have kept her indoors. She has settled well. She is timid however and easily frightened.
I would like to know how to best make her comfortable whilst on the ferry. She will have to remain in the vehicle for the duration. Should I purchase a larger carrier for comfort?
Thanks in advance!
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:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: to Purrs Sarah.
That's quite a long journey for both you and Molly and I very much hope the trip goes smoothly. This looks like a good link re choosing a carrier :)
http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/how-guides/how-choose-and-use-cat-carrier
Rather than getting a carrier that is too large, if it were me, I would take two carriers for the inevitable clean up and also a Feliway or Pet Remedy calming spray. You may also want to consider using Zylkene capsules on her food for a while before the trip in an effort to calm her down.
Is this a one way trip or are you coming back? I have family near Ballymena and we did the run from there to Birmingham via the Stranraer ferry in September but not with any cats ....
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:welcome: to Purrs
Never had any experience of things like this but sounds good what Rosella said.
I guess it's similar to humans on a long journey really:
Sickness pills
Food
Water
Toilet
Favourite toy
Calming music
OR MAYBE A GOOD BOOK OR MAGAZINE :naughty: :naughty:
Good luck.
Mary
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Good idea Mary , all the cats on this site can actually read, write and type. A clever lot they are. :rofl:
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Hi Sarah and welcome :xmas welcome:
When I relocated Polly she was in the basket for around 5 hours. Halfway home I stopped the car and let her have the run of the inside of the car for half an hour or so. She was just fine, shared part of my ham sandwich then settled back down happily in her basket.
In your case I'd have some puppy pads to line the bottom of Mollys basket just in case of accident, and stay with her in the car if you're allowed to do so. This should reduce her stress as she won't be aware of the changes going on outside the environment of the car.
Rosella's idea of taking two baskets is genius. I have collapsible carriers which might make sense for this trip. This one looks good and wouldn't take much room.
http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=771&pf_id=60234
Zylkene really works, sprinkle on her food for a couple of days beforehand.
Pet remedy spray is also very effective, buy the tiny bottle and see if she responds to it, my lot love it. http://www.petremedy.co.uk